How do you keep investors focused on your pitch?

Here is my experience so far, 1. I first called all founders i knew who had raised capital once or more - and told them hey i am starting now - i know nothing - can you help me with dos, don'ts, watch-outs and "if this is happening to you its normal " 2. Recorded the conversations (with permission )- transcribed it 3. put 10 such conversations together and asked AI(Claude in my case to summarise it ) --- thats how i started - still raising when it came to actual pitching ' I floundered - just couldn't manage in 30 minutes to cover everything - had no clue about what they were looking for - but then pushed ahead and met 15 vcs - each meeting i came back - and worked on where i got stuck - meeting 1 - the meeting didnt go beyond slide 2 - let me fix slide 2 - meeting 2 slide 2 sailed but got stuck on slide 3 and so on till 10 slides + appendix and so on till 15 meeting i was able to go through my deck --- So whats the point ? 1. everyone does this for the first time - and figures out by doing 2. you can have all the guidance but you can't drive because you played a video game. to learn to drive you need to drive 3. The smartest thing to do is to ask people who have walked the path before you --- but let me leave some value on the table - here are my notes from all those conversations Objective: Develop a systematic approach to fundraising that increases the odds of success. Dos: - Treat fundraising like a sales process with a funnel - Build a curated list of potential investors - Focus on partners who can make investment decisions - Seek introductions from successful founders Don'ts: - Don't attach yourself to any single VC - Avoid VC-to-VC introductions unless they're investing - Don't disclose too much information about your runway Watchouts: - Be prepared for a long process (3-6 months or more) - First impressions are crucial; partners decide quickly Process/Checklist: - Create a list of 100-200 potential investor partners - Research their portfolios and investment history - Develop a strategy for getting introduced to each - Track progress through your funnel (connection, acknowledgment, meeting, etc.) VC Interaction Nuances: - VCs invest by partner, not by firm. Focus on building relationships with specific partners. - Be prepared for VCs to ask about your visa status or who from your founding team will be based locally. - VCs in the Valley often prefer to invest in companies within a 50-mile radius. 2. Investor Meetings and Communication Objective: Effectively communicate your business vision and potential to investors. Dos: - Focus on your unique market insights - Discuss your go-to-market strategy and customer knowledge - Present clear metrics and goals for the next 18-24 months - Ask about their investment process and typical benchmarks Don'ts: - Don't give conclusive answers about closing dates - Avoid mentioning specific VCs you're talking to unless there's a strategic reason - Don't apologize or show desperation Watchouts: - Your answers may be treated as commitments, especially regarding numbers and names - VCs are trying to build a story about you in their heads Process/Checklist: - Prepare your pitch focusing on market insights, strategy, and growth plans - Practice answering common questions without being too conclusive - Develop a clear narrative about your funding needs and how you'll use the money VC Interaction Nuances: - VCs will ask questions to build a story about you in their heads. Be mindful of your answers. - If talking to analysts or associates, ask which partner you'd be speaking to next if there's interest. - VCs may ask about your fundraising timeline. Avoid giving definitive answers. - Be prepared for questions about how much you're raising and how you'll use the funds. - VCs typically look for 15% ownership when investing. - They'll be interested in your plans for the next 18-24 months and how you'll achieve 3x post-money valuation in that time. ----- Most of the valuable stuff here came from @goodals - if you find this useful - thank him